Fundamentals of Life Estimation
podcast episode with speaker Fred Schenkelberg
We often face questions, such as: “How long will this last?”, “Will this design survive for at least 5 years?”, and “When should we recommend servicing or replacement?” Being able to provide life estimates is a common skill we need to master.
Life testing is not the only method available to us. We can provide a guess (based on engineering judgement), to modeling and simulation, to field data analysis. And, there are more suitable methods depending on the particular situation.
Let’s explore the range of options available to estimate life for an item, plus the pros and cons of each method. You need to be aware of your options and thus be able to provide the best estimates when asked.
This Accendo Reliability webinar was originally broadcast on 9 September 2025.
To view the recorded video, visit the webinar page.
Related content:
Remaining Useful Life (RUL) Discussion with Falkonry episode
Basic Approaches to Life Testing article
Reliability Analysis and Sound Engineering Judgment article
ALT or Durability Test? article
Time to Event Analysis: An Introduction article
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